stand by

verb

1. intr, adverb to be available and ready to act if needed or called upon
2. intr, adverb to be present as an onlooker or without taking any action

   he stood by at the accident

3. intr, preposition to be faithful to

   to stand by one's principles

4. tr, adverb English law (of the Crown) to challenge (a juror) without needing to show cause

noun

1. 1. a person or thing that is ready for use or can be relied on in an emergency
   2. ( as modifier )

      stand-by provisions

2. on stand-by
   on stand-by in a state of readiness for action or use

adjective

1. (of an airline passenger, fare, or seat) not booked in advance but awaiting or subject to availability

Example Sentences

“In the end, she was a Kennedy-stand-by-your-man gal,” said producer B. J. Rack, who had worked on two films with Schwarzenegger.

From The Daily Beast

As a founding member of JStreet, Peratis could have left her stereotypical beliefs about settlers for once on stand-by mode.

From The Daily Beast

Interestingly, Sinclair remains stunningly untarnished in France over her devout stand-by-her-man stance.

From The Daily Beast

This alternative arrangement was a stand-by in case of breakdown of the steam pipes to these engines.

From Project Gutenberg

At last the maneuver was completed and the engines shut down to stand-by.

From Project Gutenberg

The standard tap and the first and second stand-by taps were no longer tapping power from the main generators.

From Project Gutenberg

"I betche the boys ain't gitting enough old stand-by-yuh chuck," he decided at length.

From Project Gutenberg

The two men eagerly lighted one each, and then, taking a few more as a stand-by, proceeded to explore.

From Project Gutenberg